Computer enclosure with removable cover

ABSTRACT

A computer enclosure includes a chassis having a back plate, a cover having a base plate, and a locking member pivotally positioned on the base plate, and two resilient members attached between the base plate and two ends of the locking member respectively. The locking member defines at least a locking protrusion thereon. The back plate defines a flange thereon for blocking the locking protrusion of the locking member. The locking member is in a first position when the two resilient members are in a normal state, and is in a second position when the two resilient members are resiliently deformed and the locking member rotated to a degree that the flange is free of the locking protrusion. The locking member is capable of rotating to move between the first and second positions. The flange latches the locking protrusion on the chassis, and the cover is attached on the chassis.

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to a computer enclosure with a cover conveniently assembled thereon.

2. Description of Related Art

A conventional computer enclosure usually includes a chassis, and a cover secured on the chassis. The chassis includes a pair of parallel side plates. Each of the side plates has a flange with a plurality of slits defined therein. The cover forms a plurality of hooks on opposite edges corresponding to the slits of the side plates. In assembly, the hooks of the cover are inserted into the slits of the side plates, and a latch member, such as a screw, is screwed into mounting holes defined in the chassis and the cover. Thus, the cover is secured on the chassis. However, it is very inconvenient to assemble or remove the cover.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Many aspects of the embodiments can be better understood with references to the following drawings. The components in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, the emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the embodiments. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of an embodiment of a computer enclosure.

FIG. 2 is an exploded, isometric view of an embodiment of a cover, the cover including a base plate, and a locking member.

FIG. 3 is an isometric view of the locking member shown in FIG. 2, but viewed from another aspect.

FIG. 4 is an assembled view of the base plate, and the locking member of FIG. 2 in one state.

FIG. 5 is an assembled view of the computer enclosure and the cover.

FIG. 6 is an assembled view of the base plate, and the locking member of FIG. 2 in another state.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to FIGS. 1-4, an embodiment of a computer enclosure includes a chassis 10, and a cover 30 attached on the chassis 10. The chassis 10 includes a front plate 11, a back plate 12, and a pair of parallel side plates 13, 14. The front plate 11 defines an arcuate flange 112 thereon. The back plate 12 defines a vertical flange 122 thereon.

The cover 30 includes a base plate 33, and a locking member 40 pivotally positioned on the base plate 33. The base plate 33 defines a first flange 31 adjacent to a front edge of the cover 30, and a second flange 35 adjacent to a back edge of the cover 30. The base plate 33 defines two fixing members 32 thereon adjacent to the front edge of the cover 30 for connecting with two ends of the locking member 40. Each fixing member 32 includes a bottom plate 321 positioned on the base plate 33, and an upright plate 322 extends vertically from a side edge of the base plate 33. A pivotal hole 323 is defined in a connecting portion of the bottom plate 321 and upright plate 322. A flange 3221 extends vertically from a lower portion of a side edge of the upright plate 322. A securing hole 3222 is defined in the flange 3221. A protrusion 34 protrudes from the base plate 33 adjacent to the front edge of the cover 30. The protrusion 34 is located between the two fixing members 32. A locating hole 341 is defined in the protrusion 34 for receiving a handle 70.

The handle 70 includes an actuating portion 71, and a connecting portion 72 defining two through holes 722 at a distal end thereof. The connecting portion 722 defines an accommodating hole 721 therein for receiving a resilient piece 80. Two distal ends of the resilient piece 80 resist two side edges of the locating hole 341, and the resilient piece 80 is resiliently fixed on the base plate 33.

The locking member 40 defines an opening 42 corresponding to the protrusion 34 on the base plate 33. Two fixing holes 43 are positioned at the ends of the locking member 40. Two openings 44 are positioned at a back portion of the locking member 40 adjacent to the two fixing holes 43. A fixing tab 441 extends from a side edge of each opening 44 on the locking member 40. A plurality of locking protrusions 45 is formed on a back portion of the locking member 40. Each locking protrusion 45 defines two slanted planes 451 thereon. Two screws 50 are adapted to be inserted in the corresponding fixing holes 43 and the pivotal holes 323 to fix the locking member 40 on the cover 30 pivotally. Two resilient members 60 are fixed on the screws 50, and are located between the ends of the locking member 40 and the upright plates 322 of the fixing members 32 respectively. Each resilient member 60 comprises a first distal end 61 connected to the corresponding fixing tab 441 on the locking member 40, and a second distal end 62 received in the corresponding securing hole 3222 on the fixing member 32.

Two locating holes 41 are positioned in the middle of the locking member 40 corresponding to the through holes 722 on the handle 70. Two fasteners 90 are inserted in the locating holes 41 and extend through the corresponding through holes 722 on the connecting portion 72 to fix the handle 70 on the locking member 40. In the shown embodiment, the fasteners 90 are screws.

Referring to FIG. 5, in assembly, the second flange 35 of the cover 30 is latched on the arcuate flange 112 of the front plate 11. The cover 30 is pressed to move toward the back plate 12 until an edge of the flange 122 on the back plate 12 resists the slanted planes 451 of the locking protrusions 45. Then continue to press the cover 30, the flange 122 abuts against the slant planes 451, the locking member 40 rotates to move in a first direction on the base plate 33 away from the first flange 31 of the cover 30. The resilient members 60 are resiliently deformed, and the screws 50 move in the pivotal holes 323 from one side to another. When the flange 122 of the back plate 12 does not abut against the slant planes 451, the locking member 40 rotates to move in a second direction opposite to the first direction. The resilient members 60 elastically return to a normal state. The cover 30 is attached on the chassis 10. In disassembly, the actuating portion 71 of the handle 70 is pulled in a direction away from the chassis 10. The resilient members 60 resiliently deform and drive the locking member 40 to rotate on the base plate 33. The edge of the flange 122 on the back plate 12 resists the slanted planes 451 of the locking protrusions 45. Then continue to pull the actuating portion 71 until the flange 122 of the back plate 12 releases the slanted planes 451. The resilient members 60 elastically return to a normal state. The cover 30 is detached from the chassis 10.

It is to be understood, however, that even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the embodiments have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of the embodiments, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the invention to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed. 

1. A computer enclosure, comprising: a cover comprising a base plate, and a locking member pivotally positioned on the base plate, the locking member having at least a locking protrusion thereon; a chassis comprising a back plate, the back plate having a flange thereon for engaging the locking protrusion of the locking member; and two resilient members attached between the base plate and two ends of the locking member respectively, the locking member is in a first position when the two resilient members are in a normal state, and is in a second position when the two resilient members are resiliently deformed and the locking member rotated to a degree that the flange is free of the locking protrusion, the locking member is capable of rotating to move between the first and second positions, the flange latches the locking protrusion on the chassis, and the cover is attached on the chassis.
 2. The computer enclosure of claim 1, wherein the locking protrusion defines at least a slanted plane thereon, and the cover defines a first flange thereon, the flange of the back plate abuts the slanted plane, the locking member rotates to move between the first and second positions, the resilient members are resiliently deformed until the flange does not abut the locking protrusion in the second position, the resilient members are normal state and the flange latches the locking protrusion on the chassis in the first state.
 3. The computer enclosure of claim 2, further comprising a handle fixed on the locking member, the handle is pulled to drive the locking member from the first to the second position, when the flange of the back plate releases the slant plane of the locking protrusion, the resilient members are normal state, the locking member returns to the first position and the cover is detached from the chassis.
 4. The computer enclosure of claim 3, wherein the base plate defines two fixing members thereon for connecting with the two ends of the locking member respectively, each fixing member defines a pivotal hole thereon, the locking member defines two fixing holes at the two ends corresponding to the pivotal holes of the fixing member, two fasteners pass through the pivotal holes and the corresponding fixing holes to fix the locking member on the base plate.
 5. The computer enclosure of claim 4, wherein the locking member defines two fixing tabs thereon at a back adjacent to the two fixing holes, each fixing member defines a securing hole thereon, the resilient members are fixed on the corresponding fasteners between the two ends of the locking member and the fixing members respectively, each resilient member comprises a first distal end connected to the corresponding fixing tab, and a second distal end received in the corresponding securing hole.
 6. The computer enclosure of claim 5, wherein the resilient members are torsional springs.
 7. The computer enclosure of claim 6, wherein the handle comprises an actuating portion, and a connecting portion defining at least a through hole at a distal end, the locking member defines a locating hole in the middle corresponding to the through hole, a fastener passes through the locating hole and the through hole to fix the handle on the locking member.
 8. The computer enclosure of claim 7, wherein the connecting portion defines an accommodating hole thereon for receiving a resilient piece, the base plate defines a protrusion thereon between the two fixing members, a locating hole is positioned on the protrusion of the base plate for receiving the handle, two distal ends of the resilient piece resist two side edges of the locating hole, and the resilient piece is resiliently fixed on the base plate.
 9. The computer enclosure of claim 8, wherein the chassis further comprises a front plate opposite to the back plate, the front defines a flange thereon, and the cover defines a second flange thereon for engaging with the flange of the front plate. 